The Navy SEAL's Promise

By Soraya Lane

With only 48 hours back on home soil, United States Army Corporal Saskia Cullen is desperate to spend every minute with her young son. So when heavy snowfall closes JFK airport and she misses her connecting flight, she's devastated. Until Navy SEAL Luke Gray offers to keep her company... and then does everything within his power to get her home.

Luke is back in the US on leave, waiting to hear the details of his next mission, and Saskia proves to be a pleasant distraction. And when he hears that she needs to get home to see her son, he's prepared to do anything to help the sexy single mom. Trouble is, he hadn't planned on falling for anyone, let alone a beautiful soldier about to return overseas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Soraya Lane
• Release date: Aug 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311358936

Soraya Lane

Writing romance for Harlequin Mills & Boon is truly a dream come true for Soraya. An avid book reader and writer since her childhood, Soraya describes becoming a published author as “the best job in the world”. Soraya lives with her own real life hero and son on a small farm in New Zealand, surrounded by animals and with an office overlooking a field where their horses graze. Visit Soraya at www.sorayalane.com 

Book preview

THE NAVY SEAL’S PROMISE

SORAYA LANE

THE NAVY SEAL’S PROMISE

SORAYA LANE

Copyright © Soraya Lane 2012

Cover by Mixing Ink Design

Smashwords edition

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form is forbidden without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Visit Soraya at her website www.sorayalane.com or on twitter @Soraya_Lane.

You can email Soraya direct at [e-mail]

Also by Soraya Lane

The Montana series:

Montana Reunion

Montana Homecoming

Montana Christmas

Montana Legacy (coming soon!)

Other titles:

Voyage of the Heart

The Billionaire in Disguise

Her Soldier Protector

The Returning Hero

Patchwork Family in the Outback

Rescued by the Rancher

The Soldier’s Sweetheart

Mission: Soldier to Daddy

The Navy SEAL’s Promise

The Navy SEAL’s Bride

Back in the Soldier’s Arms

Rodeo Daddy

The Army Ranger’s Return

Soldier on Her Doorstep

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

CHAPTER ONE

Saskia Cullen tucked closer into the warmth beneath her cheek. She tried to shift her body, seeking a more comfortable position, but didn’t get very far. She yawned and stretched out an arm.

Hi.

Her eyes flew open, the deep voice so close to her ear taking her by surprise.

Oh. Heat burst into her cheeks, her eyes darting to the side before she recoiled back into the seat and hit her head on the window. I’m sorry, I must have… What had she done? She was so exhausted she could hardly even recall boarding the plane.

It’s fine. I figured you were really tired. The guy seated to her right, the guy she’d been snuggled into like he was her own personal love monkey, was grinning at her. His eyes crinkled ever-so at the corners, brown irises somehow smiling as he watched her.

It didn’t stop her embarrassment and her cheeks were still on fire.

I don’t usually do that sort of thing, I promise, she started, rubbing the back of her head where she’d hit it. I remember taking my seat and then I must have fallen asleep before you even boarded. The last week had been so exhausting, and then the thought of the long-haul flight back home… Saskia looked down, pleased she’d changed back into her civilian clothes. The last thing she needed to do was embarrass herself and the army.

Look, you don’t snore and I didn’t mind, so it’s no big deal, the guy insisted, holding out his hand. It was awkward, given how close they were seated, but she grasped it anyway. I’m Luke.

Saskia, she managed, still tongue-tied. "And I am sorry. Honestly, it’s beyond embarrassing and I have seriously never done that before."

He laughed, a big grin spreading across his face. What, fall asleep with strange men?

Saskia knew her face would be a furious kind of red by now. Let myself not be in control was what she wanted to reply, but she kept her mouth shut.

Just to warn you, we’ve been having some turbulence.

The plane started to shudder and Saskia looked up to see the seatbelt sign flashing. She instinctively touched her buckle to make sure it was fastened.

You mean to say I slept through more of this? she asked, resting her head back on the seat as the plane thumped and rocked like a bad rollercoaster ride.

Luke nodded, hands planted to his thighs. Yep, sure did.

She watched the way his fingers thrummed back and forth and then stopped, digging into the denim of his jeans. Her eyes skipped to his face. It wasn’t outwardly obvious, but she was pretty sure he was nervous. She’d seen this sort of thing plenty of times before, especially with her new recruits.

You okay? The plane lurched some more.

Luke met her gaze. I’ll be fine as soon as we land. He paused and slowly unclenched his fingers, crossing his arms instead like he’d realized how she’d found him out. This doesn’t bother you? he asked with a grimace.

Saskia shrugged. I’m used to flying, that’s all.

She wondered if that’s why he hadn’t minded her sleeping on his shoulder. Perhaps it had taken his mind off the turbulence. Saskia fought the urge to check her breath, horrified that she might have been breathing all over him.

You fly for work a lot? he asked.

Saskia hesitated. Did she tell him the truth or lie? She glanced at him, still not sure. Yeah, you could say that.

So are you flying home or for work right now?

He was just making polite conversation, and since they were going to be sitting side by side for a while yet, she either needed to open up or somehow maneuver the conversation away from her. She was used to being around men 24/7 – the kind of men that’d make plenty of girls swoon. So the fact that this broad shouldered, dark eyed stranger was making her stomach flip more than the turbulence? It told her she didn’t want to spoil things by telling him what she did for a living, not when so many civilian guys seemed to find it intimidating. Having Luke to flirt with for the rest of the flight wasn’t exactly something she was opposed to.

I’m flying home, but just briefly. I’m on leave, she admitted, pausing as she watched his face. From the army.

Luke’s eyes widened. You’re a soldier?

She smiled at the expression on his face. United States Army Corporal Saskia Cullen, she told him, proud of her title. I’m flying home to see my family and I’ll be back on a plane in two days.

Luke relaxed as they started flying more steadily again. So you’ll be used to far worse conditions than this?

Yup, you could say that. Some of the flights she’d been on in the last couple of years had been beyond hair-raising.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but since you’ve slept through most of the flight…

We’re almost there already? Saskia checked her watch. Wow. She must have been more exhausted that she’d realized.

Do you have a connecting flight to make?

She looked back at Luke. I’m heading to Buffalo.

Luke frowned. "This turbulence is from the snow storm that’s hit New York and the surrounding states, and